The Mississippi River

The General John A. Logan Museum tells the story of John A. Logan (1826-1886) and his native Southern Illinois [then called "Egypt"] in the era of the Civil War. 

Historian Gary Ecelbarger stated that, "John A. Logan may be the most noteworthy nineteenth century American to escape notice in the twenty-first century."  This is true despite the fact that In his life time Logan was one of General Grant's favorite offices, one of Illinois' most powerful Senators, and Founder of Memorial Day as a national holiday. 

Perhaps the most remarkable fact about Logan is that he began his political career in Illinois as an advocate of slavery and ended it as an advocate of African American civil rights.  When asked why he supported Logan's bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1884, Frederick Douglass replied because "he has a backbone [and] has spread around the Negro the network of the laws."